Megan Rapinoe has stepped into the Korbin Albert controversy with a clear shot at the 20-year-old United States women’s national team midfielder.
Albert has been facing a tidal wave of backlash after fans discovered reposts on her TikTok that featured anti-LGBTQ+ posts.
Albert also was caught liking a post that was celebrating and making fun of Rapinoe’s Achilles injury that ended her career in last year’s NWSL Championship game.
The state of it. Imagine liking something wishing injury on someone who would have been your teammate, whose number you now wear, & who helped ensure you’ll get paid fairly for your work.
Between that & the homophobia & transphobia her name should be mud in that locker room. https://t.co/XoNG2jBAwz— Gen Williams (@genwilliams) March 28, 2024
Rapinoe took to Instagram voicing her support for the transgender community with a statement targeted toward Albert.
Megan Rapinoe Korbin Albert response
“For people who want to hide behind ‘my beliefs’ I would just ask one question, are you making any type of space safer, more inclusive, more whole, any semblance of better, bringing the best out of anyone?
“Because if you aren’t, all you believe in is hate. And Kids are literally killing themselves because of this hate. Wake, TF up!
“Yours truly, #15.
“For all my trans homies enduring this horrific treatment day in and day out, I see you and hear you and I am WITH YOU.”
Rapinoe ending her statement with “Yours truly, #15” is a bit of a mic drop as Albert now wears Rapinoe’s former number for the USWNT.
Other prominent USWNT figures have echoed Rapinoe’s statements with Becky Sauerbrunn, Sam Mewis, Kristie Mewis, Lynn Williams and former USWNT defender Meghan Klingenberg reposting Rapinoe’s message.
BECKY ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/NRcUDKyl4O
— Emily Higginbotham (@EmilyHigg) March 28, 2024
As of now no players on April's SheBelieves Cup roster — which Albert is on — have publicly responded to the controversy.
Barring any shocking decisions, Albert is expected to play with the USWNT next week in the tournament. The 20-year-old PSG midfielder broke her way into USWNT head coach Twila Kilgore’s starting XI in the Concacaf W Gold Cup.
She started all the knockout games including the 1-0 victory in the final vs. Brazil.
Albert hasn't made any public comments yet but did score in PSG's 3-0 Champions League victory on Thursday.
UPDATE: Korbin Albert posted an apology via Instagram
